Sandbanks Beach

A long sweep of soft sand on Poole Bay where the water stays shallow a long way out, which suits steady lengths parallel to the shore. RNLI lifeguards cover it from late March to late September and the bathing water is rated Excellent. Stay well away from the harbour mouth at the western tip, where the tide runs hard past the chain ferry.

Directions

Photo: Romazur · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 81/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 17°C, wind 12 km/h, waves 0.3 m, UV 0. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Swim in the lifeguarded zone between the red and yellow flags during patrol hours, after checking the forecast, tide times and local hazard signs (RNLI advice).
Getting in: Free public beach on Banks Road, reached by ramp. Dogs are banned from the main beach from 1 May to 30 September; a dog-friendly stretch runs from the western end of the promenade to Haven Point all year.
Parking & transport: Sandbanks surface car park beside the beach. Morebus services run to Sandbanks; the nearest stations are Parkstone (2.6 miles), Poole (2.9 miles) and Branksome (3 miles).
Lifeguards: RNLI lifeguards patrol daily 10am to 6pm; the 2026 season at Sandbanks runs from 28 March to 27 September.
Water quality: Designated bathing water 'Poole Sandbanks Peninsular' was classified Excellent by the Environment Agency in 2024 and 2025. BCP Council notes Sandbanks has won the Blue Flag award more than any other UK resort.
Season: Lifeguarded late March to late September; the water is coldest outside the summer months.
Watch for: Strong tidal streams and a busy shipping channel at the Poole Harbour entrance by the chain ferry, at the western tip of the peninsula
Cold water early and late in the season (RNLI)
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilet · Showers · Café and refreshment kiosk · Drinking water · Beach office · Free electric barbecues · Beach wheelchair (May to September, deposit required) · Mobi-Mat access matting (May to September)